Cutting for the Liver-A Picture. points internally, and then an adhesion gene- 1805. rally takes place between the liver and some of March. the intestines, particularly that part called the transverse arch of the colon: through this adhesion, so wisely formed by nature, the matter, bursts with safety, and is evacuated. But should nature not be able to effect this salutary operation, then the matter remains until the liver has become a perfect shell, filled with different kinds of fluids, and the patient sinks, harassed to the last moment, with a most distressing dysentery. This is a sketch of hepatitis in its first attacks; but when these are frequently repeated, the liver gets into a torpid, schirrous, or chronic diseased state. Then it is, that the bile is not secreted in proper quantity or quality; there is bad digestion, and consequently little appetite; the patient is ever harassed with the most tormenting bowel complaints; the countenance assumes a yellow and at the same time a singularly cadaverous hue; the flesh gradually wastes away off* his bones; a hectic fever accompanies this melancholy train of infirmities; till at length the "First, let a potential cautery be applied to the region of the liver, so that the eschar may only penetrate the abdominal muscles, and make no impression on the peritoneum : then by means of a knife make an aperture in that membrane, through which let a concave silver instrument be introduced, such as is used in the operation of lithotomy: afterwards let the incision be well dilated, and immediately the membrane surrounding the liver will come into view, distended with its contents. On being pierced, à sanious humour, resembling the water in which beef has been washed, will flow out."—" O tempora! O mores!" Temperance recommended. 1805. friendly tomb, opening its "marble jaws,” reMarch. ceives the wretched carcase, and terminates its load of miseries. It is true, indeed, that a return to his native clime sometimes protracts this fatal catastrophe; but what is this more than a prolongation of his sufferings? May this picture, which is far from being too highly coloured, ever flash across the memory of the heedless young European, when about to deviate from the heavenly rules of temperance! May it act the friendly part of a Pharos, to warn him, when approaching the shoals of this formidable disease, and the writer's object will be attained. For let him be assured, that, in taking leave of the fertile vales of Albion, the heathclad mountains of Scotia, or the green hills of Erin, to pass the fiery ordeal of a tropical climate; unless he at the same time bids adieu to all Bacchanalian excesses;-in short, unless he makes temperance his motto and guide, he need not expect to revisit his native clime with that greatest of all terrestrial blessings, "Mens sana in corpora sana.” "Health of body, peace of mind." Let him remember, that the acquisition of even a princely fortune will but add a long list. of ideal, to the catalogue of his corporeal sufferings! For when he finds himself possessed of the means of procuring, without the possibility of enjoying the good things of this world, will they not be to him what the waters were to Tantalus? Dysentery. Ah! warn'd by friendly counsel, learn to shun To the preceding complaint there is another so closely allied, that some have asserted it to be only a symptom: certain it is, that in this country (India) the liver complaint is seldom unaccompanied by dysentery; and that many, who died apparently of the latter disease alone, have been found, upon dissection, to be strongly affected with the former. However this may be, the progress of both diseases is arrested by the same powerful medicine; and though it would be too dogmatical to say, that mercury will infallibly cure the dysentery, (for experience has shown, that many people affected with this disease cannot be affected by mercury,) yet I should have little hesitation in asserting, that if a ptyalism can be brought on, it will almost certainly put a stop to the disease. This I have seen so repeatedly, that I have no doubt about the connexion that subsists in this country between dysentery and the liver complaint, and consequently that their cure is to be attempted on a similar plan. I have, however, observed, that in people who had had repeated attacks of this complaint, the symptoms did not inmediately subside when the mouth became affected, a troublesome diarrhoea often remaining for some days after the violence of the disease had gone off. This might probably be owing to debility of the intestines, for it was almost always removed by the use of nitrous acid diluted in water, and a glass drank three or four times a day, which strengthened the tone of the stomach and 1805. March. Dysentery. 1805. excited an appetite. In all cases of dysentery I March. would advise the early and liberal use of mer cury, combined with opium, and a small quantity of antimonial powder, so as to induce ptyalism as soon as possible; for by a tardy, irresolute practice, the disease often advances, by hasty strides, to a pitch that defies the subsequent application of medicine. Sail for Madras. CHAP. X. Sail for Madras-Account of the Jugglers of IndiaBoag's Experiments on the Bite of Cobra Capello— Remarks on sleeping in the open Air-On the Preservation of the Health of Seamen-On the Impolicy of keeping Men of War so long on the East India Station -Some Remarks on the Climate of Madras and Bengal. APRIL 1st, 1805, embarked on board His 1805. As this was the period at which the north-east monsoon shifts to that of the south-west, we consequently had very disagreeable and unsettled weather, especially among the Nicobar islands; where we experienced nothing but a succession of heavy squalls, calms, deluges of rain, and not unfrequently tremendous thunder storms. One night, in particular, the thunder seemed to rend the very heavens! the claps bursting close over our heads, and the lightning flying around us in apparent balls of fire, so as to excite considerable anxiety, lest some of them should be attracted by the great quantity of iron work in so large a ship. He, however, who "Rides on the whirlwind, and directs the storm," led us safe through this awful specimen of his power; which brought to my mind that much admired description in Thompson, where the thunder-storm is so inimitably well painted. S |